Air conditioner



| w. CHILD 2,025,802

AIR coNDI'TIoNER Filed Aug. 25, 1934 I2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 31, 1935.

L. W. CHILD AIR CONDITIONER Filed Aug. 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iff 7 Gttorneg Patented Dec. 3l, 1935 oFF-ICE j i Am coNnrrroNEn Lachlan W. Child, Toledo, ./Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Aeriet Air Conditioner Company, a corporation of VIllinois Appucaaonnugust 25, 1934, serial No. '141,453 t 15 claims. (ci. 257-137) i 'Ihis invention relates to air conditioners, and has as its object to provide a unit adapted particularly for air cooling, but adapted also for air heating with means for ltering the air. It relateslparticularly to what is sometimes termed a floor type unit, of an upstanding construction adapted to rest upon the iioor of a room, enclosed in a suitable cabinet, or to be built into a wall of the room to be conditioned. An important object is to provide such a unit which is relatively silent in operation. In this respect, the invention contemplates a belt driven, relatively slow speed centrifugal fan comprising simply an impeller of relatively large circumference, without any circumferential shroud.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which the fan, although quite close to the .discharge vent of the casing, and of a diameter much less than the length of the casing, will discharge a stream of air issuing fairly uniformly from the entire length of a. vent the full length of the casing.

Another object is to provide ample filtering area in a lter of simple and conventional de,

stantially the same distance in a vertical direction, occupying a major portion of theheight of the casing; the filter is extended from` end to end of the casing and is spaced from the inlet of the fan just enough 4to insure ample space for air to travel from the remote regions of the filter to the fan inlet; and the heat transfer unit occupies the remainder of the height of the casing.

In the `preferred form of the invention, the filter is inclined somewhat from the vertical so that oneof its horizontal edges is quite close to the fan,leaving an opening of maximum area between said edge and theadjacent wall of the casing, for air to pass from the heat transfer element into the space behind the filter, the other horizontal edge of. the filter being quite close to the said wall of the casing so as to provide maximum space between the lter and the fan for the air to flow from the end region of the lter into the fan intake; and the ian supporting bracket is accommodated inthe same space between the fan and the filter, whereby the rear side of the fan may be positioned closely adjacent the opposite wall of the casing. 5

The invention further aims to provide a conditioner that is relatively simple and inexpensive iny construction. A

Other objects are: to provide for removal of the lter; to provide means for guiding the filter back to its inclined position during replacement; to provide closure means for normally closing' oi the space between the filter and th fan, but capable of being moved aside to allow ccess to the fan bearings; and to provide a fan supporting bracket of such construction as to accommodate itself in the aforementioned space between the fan and lter, to support the motor beyond the periphery of the fan, and to constitute a bracing strut rigidiiying the casing as a whole.

Another object is to provide means for disposingpof water ofcondensation, requiring no drain pipes. j

Another objeetis to .provide a novel casing structure of which end panels of the heat transg5- fer element form a part.

With these and other objects in view my `invention consists in the combination and construction and arrangement of the various parts thereof, whereby the objects contemplated are attained,

as more fully set forth in the accompanying specifcations, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a rear elevation, partly insection, of an air conditioner embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the s ame. z

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, of a somewhat 40 modified form of the invention.

Fig..5 is a similar view of a further modification of the invention.

^ Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view oi one end of the conditioner shown in Fig.l 5.

Fig. '1 is a view 'similar to Fig. 2, of a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a, detail view of the central region of the filter, partially raised, andassocated portions of the fan bracket.

The conditioner shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises generally a heatvtransfer unit A, a filter B, a fan C, and a casing D, the latter being in each case roughly subdividedvertically in a horizontal plane indicated at 9 into a large compartment I 0, 55

compartment II, in which is located the heattransfer unit A.

The casing D comprises., in Figs. 1 and 2, the front wall I3, the bottom I4, the end walls 'I 5, and the rear wall I6, the latter terminating at the plane 9 to form the casing inlet 66.

End panels I1, constituting part of the heat transfer unit A, form continuations of the end walls I5.A 'I'he panels I1 are pan shaped, having marginal walls I8, I8a, I9 and 20 defining a space in which are accommodated the return bends 28 which connect together the endsl of the vaned tubes ofthe element A. The tubes proj ect through the panels I1.

The walls I8 are secured to the front wall I3 of the casing. The walls I9 are supported upon and secured to the base rails 2l. The walls 20 are secured to and support a partition 22 extending from end to end of the casing, 'dividing the space I6 from the space II on'one side thereof, and forming the bottom of the fan housing. Air

- concentrating bailles 23 are interposedbetween the panels I1 and thev rails2| and partition 22 respectively.

'I'he heat transfer coil-A fills the space betwe`e the partition 22 and the lower baille 23. The latter has a rear ange 24 forming a ldrip collecting\ eave from which condensate may pass through holes 25 to the collecting pan 26, positioned between the bottom I4 and the partition 23. The pan 26 is in the form of a drawer, slidable on the bottom- I4, and removable for emptying its contents. y

The bottom marginal wall I9 of the panel I1 has its edge turnedup as at 21', forming a collecting eave for collecting condensate from the return bends 28 of the coil A. Collected moisture ows through openings 29 into the eaves 23, 24. The upper walls 26 of the panels I1 are bent upwardly to form flanges 30, which are welded or otherwise suitably secured-to the ends walls I5. The bottom I4 is secured to the inner faces of the rails 2|.

The element A is connected to a 'suitable refrigerating machine or heat generating source, by lead in tubes 3l extending downwardly in the space in the panels I1, and through the bottom I4. The fan housing occupies the space directly above the element A, being defined by the rear casing wall I6, the end casing walls I5, the bot-n t0m DarttiOn 22, and a fan inlet shroud 33, Bxl-lihe guides 55, and cause the lower region of the tending from end to end of the casing. The shroud, 33 has a central opening 34 whichregisters with the inlet 35 of the centrifugal fan C.

The closed side 36 of the fan or impeller C is mounted upon the fan pulley 31 which in turn has a hub 38 mounted on the fan shaft 39. The shaft 39 is journalled in a bearing 40 mounted on the fan bracket 4I.

'I'he space in the compartment II not occupied by the element A communicates with and is vdirectly below the space between the fan housing and the front wall I3 of the conditioner casing D. 'I'he latter space is traversed by the filter B, so that the air issuing from the element A, will pass through the iilter on its way -to the fan C. In order to achieve maximum filtering area in a filter of conventional and simple design, the lter is positioned nearly upright extending from top to bottom of the fan, but inclined enough from the vertical so that its lower edge will lay over against the fan housing while its upper edge I substantially meets the front wall I3. The filter extends the full length of the casing. Thus there will be formed between the filter and ,the fan shroud 33, a wedge shaped space 42 having its largest volume opposite the upper region of the (filter, to accommodate the flow of air through the end regions of the filter and to the fan inlet. 'I'his space is important in View of the fact that a. major portion of the area of the filter lies beyond the mouth of the fan. y

As a further consequence of the inclined posl- ,tion of the filter, the horizontal 'cross sectional area of the space 43 through which the aIr reaches the lter, is graduated from a maximum at its lower extremity, through which the entire volume of air passes, to a minimum at the upper extremity whereat all of the air has passed through the lter. The space 43 at its lower extremity thus occupies the entire distance from the front wall 43 to the fan shroud 33.

The space 42 further serves to accommodate the bracket 4I extending from end `to end ofthe casing and secured to the end walls I5 as at 44, thus serving as a longitudinal strut in addition to supporting the fan.

The bracket 4I includes an upstanding pedestal 45, on which is secured the motor 46. The top of the pedestal 45 extends rearwardly above the cut 25 away region of the shroud 33, the remainder of the pedestal and the bracket 4I lying forwardly of the shroud.

A motor housing is formed by a plate 41 interposed between the pedestal 45 and the motor 4I, 30 and an end wall 48 projecting upwardly from the inner end ofthe plate 41. A flange 19 on the end 4wall 48 securesI the latter to the rear side of the shroud 33. The purpose of the motor housing is to close off the top of that portion of' 35 the space 42 which lies below the motor 46, to prevent short circuiting of air currents from discharge to intake of the fan.

The remainder of the space 42 is closed at-the top by a cover 50, hinged at 5I by means of ears 40' Lfilter to slide laterally until it slips into the channel 54. 'I'he cover 50 may be lifted to give better access to the lter for removal. 'I'he cover 50 also gives access to the bearing 4I) for lubrication purposes.

'I'he motor 46 carries the drive pulley 58 which drives the fan pulley 31 by means of a V-belt 58.

The heat transfer element compartment I1 may be above the filter-fan compartment, as in Fig. 4. `In this case, the wedge shaped space 43 communicates at its lower extremity with the casing inlet v60 instead of with the space I1 as in Fig. 2. The space 42 and fan supporting bracket 4I are the same as in Fig. 2 exc'ept that they are 6" positioned lower in the casing. 'Ihe motor 46 is positioned just below the condensate pan 26 which in this case is at the upper extremity of the fan, `and forms the removable closure for the top of the space 42. Its ends are supported by guides 6I.

The heat transfer element A is positioned vertically, in the center of the spa'ce I1, just above the pan 26. Air issuing from the fan passes through the compartment I I and the element A as indicated by the'arrows. 'I'he filter is removable through the pan opening 26a.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figs. and 6. In this form, the lter meets the shroud I3 at its upper extremity, and meets the rear wall I6 at its lower extremity. 'I'he lcasing` inlet 60 is disposed intermediate the top and bottom of the casing, at the upper extremity of the filter, and air pwes downwardly through the filter instead of upwardly as in Figs. 3 and 4. The motor is mounted on the bottom I l of the casing.

The element A extends horizontally entirely across the compartment I1, and condensate is collected by a plurality of eaves 62 underlying alternate tiers of the tubes composing the element A, while drain sheds 63 underlie the re maining tiers of tubes and -overlie the edges of the'eaves 62, being spacedsufliciently thereabove to allow ample circulation between them.

'I'he eaves 62 extend through openings 64 in one of the panels I1, through which the condensate ows to a trough 65 within the panel. A Venturi pump 66, in one of the lead in tubes 3|, withdraws the moisture from the trough 65,

through a suction tube V6", and injects it into the heat transfer uid. It may thence be ejected at the refrigerator by a suitable relief valve.

The rear wall I6 in this case may be hinged at 68, and lowered'to allow removal of the lter, which in turn gives access to the motor.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the

t filter is positioned in a vertical plane, and the fan bearing passes through it. In order that the filter may be removed, it is slotted asat 68 from the place where it accommodates the fan bearing to its lower edge, and the bearing has a depending tenon 69 which fills the slot 68. I'he tenon 69 may have its edges channelled as at 'ID to hold the edges of the iilter defining the slot 68.

' In this case the motor and drive mechanism are positioned infthe space on the opposite side of the iilter from the fan, as is the fan bracket also. Y

I claim as m,y invention:

l. In an air conditioner, an elongated upright casing, relatively narrow from front to rear, providing in its interior two vertically superimposed chambers each extending longitudinally thereof, and having intake anddischarge openings communicating respectively with said chambers, a relatively thin, large diameter slow speed centrifugal fan and a lter, together occupying one of said chambers, eachl positioned in a substantially vertical plane extending longitudinally of the casing, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the lter, a heat transfer. element traversing the other of said chambers between its associated casing opening and the filter, and means to direct air through the filter and thence into the fan.

2. In an air conditioner, a substantially rectangular casing, relatively narrow in one dimension, providing in its interior two chambers divided by a plane transverse to the casing, and having inlet and discharge openings communicating respectively with said chambers, a relatively thin, large diameter slow speed centrifugal fan and filter,v

together occupying one of said chambers, each positioned substantially perpendicular to said plane and substantially .parallel to the major sides of the casing and to each other, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the other of said chambers between its associated 'the filter,

casing opening and the filter, and'means to direct the air through the filter and thence into the fan.

3. In air conditioner, a substantially rectan gular ca ing, relatively narrow in one dimension,

providing in its interior two chambers divided by a plane transverse to the casing, and having inlet and discharge openings communicating re'- spectively with said chambers, a relatively thini large diametenslow speedcentrifugal fan and 10 iilter, together occupying one of-said chambers,

leach positioned substantially perpendicular to said plane and substantially parallel to the major sides of the casing and to each other, onebelhind the other, the intake side of the f l a heat transfer element traversingethe other of said chambers between its-associated casing opening `and the filterand means to direct the air through the lter and thence into the fan,

said filter being positioned so that its edge'near- 20' est the inlet is positioned closely adjacent the fan so as -to provide ample area of communication between the inlet and the space between the filter and the adjacent casing wall on the side of the iilterremote from the fan.

" facing 4. In an air conditioner, a substantially rectangular casing, relatively narrow in one dimension, providing in its interior two elongated chambers divided by a plane transverse to the casing and having inlet and discharge vopenings communicating respectively Withsaid chambers, a relatively thin, large diameter, slowv speed centrifugal fan and lter, together occupying one of said chambers, each positioned substantially perpendicular to said plane and substantially parallel to the major sides' of the casing and to each other, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the other of said chambers between its associated casing opening and the filter, and means 40' to direct the air through the filter and thence into the fan including a fan intake shroud positioned between the fan and filter,`extending from end to end of said chamber in which the fan and filter are located, andrhaving an opening registering with the fan intake and a partition wall extending substantially in said `Plane from said shroud to the major wall of the casing which is adjacent the fan.

5. In an air conditioner, a. substantially rectanguiar casing, relatively narrow in one dimension, providing in its interior two elongated chambers divided by a plane transverse to the casing, and having inlet and discharge openings communicating respectively with said chambers, a relatively thin, large diameter, sl'ow speed centrifugal fan and filter, together occupying one of said chambers, each positioned substantially perpendicular to said plane and substantially'parallel to the major sides of the casing and to each other, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the other of said chambers between its associated casing opening and the lter, and means to direct the air through the filter and thence into the fan including a fan intake shroud positioned between the fan and filter, extending from end to en'd of said chamber in which the fan and iilter are located, and having an opening registering with the fan intake and a partition wall extending substantially in said plane from said shroud to the major wall of the casing which is adjacent the fan, the filter extending beyond the fan inlet at bo h'ends and being so inclined and of such breadt that one of its longitudinal edges is positioned losely adja- 75 cent said shroud while its opposite edge is at a l ,distance from the shroud, whereby to give maxlmum area of communication between the inlet A and the chamber between the filter and adjacent casing wall, while providing also a chamber between the filter and the shroud for air currents to pass from the end regions of the lter tothe fan inlet.

6. In an air conditioner, a substantially rectangular casing, relatively narrow in one direction, providing in its interior two elongated chambers divided by a plane transverse to the casing, and having inlet and discharge openings communicating respectively with said chambers, a relatively thin, large diameter, slow speed centrifugal fan and filter, together occupying one'of said chambers, each positioned substantially perpendicular to said plane and substantially parallel to the major sides of the casing and to each other, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the other of said chambers between its associatedcasing opening and the filter, and means to direct the air through the filter and thence into the fan including a fan intake shroud positioned between the fan and filter, extending from end to end of said chamber in which the fan and filter are lostantially meets the adjacent major casing will,

the filter extending beyond the fan inlet at both' ends. f

9. In an air conditioner, an upright casing, relal tively narrow from front to rear, providing in its 5 interior two vertically superimposed chambers,

vsubstantially vertical planev extending longitudinally of the casing, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the upperv chamber between the inlet and the filter, and means to direct the air flow in said casing through the filter and thence into the fan intake.

10. In an air conditioner, a casing providing a 20 chamber which is divided by a fan intake shroud into two compartments the dimensions of which are considerably greater in directions parallel to relatively-narrow from front to rear, providing in its interior two vertically superimposed chambers, the casinghaving at its top a discharge vent communicating with tne upper of said chambers, and at its bottom an inlet communicating with the lower chamber, a relatively thin, large diameter, slow speed centrifugal fan and a filter, together occupying the upper chamber, each positioned in a substantially vertical plane extending longitudinally of the casing, one behind the other, the intake side of the fan facing the filter, a heat transfer element traversing the lower chamber l its interior twovertically superimposed chambers,

the casing having at its top a discharge vent communicating with the upper of said chambers, and at its bottom an inlet communicating with the lower chamber, a, relatively thin, large diameter, slow speed centrifugal fan and a filter, together occupying the upper chamber, each positioned in a substantially vertical plane extending longitudinally of the casing, one behind the other, the intake side ofthe fan facing the filter, a heat transthe inlet and the lter, and means to direct air issuing from said element, 4through the filter and thence into the fan, said means including a shroud positioned between the filter and'fan and apertured in registry with the fan intake and a partition extending from the lower extremity of the shroud between the heating element and fan to the major casing wall that is adjacent the fan,

the filter being inclined so that its lower edge meets the corner substantially between said shroud and Partition while its upper edge subthe plane of said shroud than in the direction perpendicular to said shroud, said shroud having an 25 opening, a relatively thin, large diameter, slow speed centrifugal fan in one of said compartments, positioned closely parallel to said shroud; its intake registering with said opening, and a filter in the other compartment extending at both 30 ends beyond said fan intake, substantially parallel to said shroud, and fairly 'closely adjacent thereto, just enough space being providedbetween the filter and the shroud to give ample vroom for air ow from the end regions of the filter to said 35 opening.

1l. In an air conditioner, a casing providing a chamber which is divided by a fan intake shroud into two compartments the dimensions of which are considerably greater in directions parallel to 40 the plane of said shroud than in the direction perpendicular to said shroud, said shroud having an opening, a relatively thin Iargediameter, slow speed centrifugal fan in one of said compartments, positioned closely parallel to said shroud, its intake registering with said opening, and a filter in the other compartment extending at both ends beyond said fan intake, said filter being substantially parallel and closely adjacent to both the shroud'and the opposite Wall of said compartment, just enough spaceV being provided between the filter and the shroud to give ample room for air flow from the end Aregions of the filter to said opening.

12. In an air conditioner, a casing providing a 5 chamber which is divided by a fan intake shroud into two compartments the dimensions of which are considerably greater in directions parallel to the plane of said shroud than in the direction perpendicular to said shroud, said shroud having 60 an opening, acentrifugal fan in one of said compartments, positioned closely parallel to said shroud, its intake registering with said opening, fer element traversing the lower chamber between Y and a filter in the other compartment extending at both ends beyond said intake, substantially G5 parallel and closely adjacent to both the shroud .and the opposite Wall of said compartment, just `side of said compartment having ya full length discharge vent. 75

13. In an air conditioner, a casing providing a chamber which is divided by a fan intake shroud into two compartments the dimensions of which are considerably greater in directions parallel to the plane of said shroud than in the direction perpendicular to said shroud, said shroud having an opening, a centrifugal tan in onelof said compartments, positioned closely ,parallel to said shroud, its intake registering with said opening, and a iilter in the other compartment extending at both ends beyond said fan intake, substantially parallel and closely adjacent to both the shroud and the opposite wall of said compartment, just enough space being provided between the lter and the shroud to give ample room for Y air ilow from the end` regions of the lter to said opening, said Ian being, relatively thin and corner thereof, a small pulley on the motor, and

a belt connecting said pulleys and adapted to drive said Ian at a slow speed.

14. In an air conditioner, a rectangular casing, a flat iilter therein, a centrifugal fan positioned with its intake closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said illter, a driven pulley on the closed side of the fan, va motor, a drive pulley thereon, and aV belt traveling on said pulleys in a plane parallel to said fan, the'motor being positioned in a corner of the casing beyond the pe- 10 riphery of the fan,- its shaft intersecting the.

plane of the fan.

l5. In an air conditioner, casing and a silently operating centrifugal fan therein comprising a non-peripherally shrouded,` large diameter im- 15 peller, and means to rotate said impeller at a LACHLAN w. cHiLD. 

